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Shinohara code 70 turnouts - DCC friendly

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  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Richmond, VA
  • 1,890 posts
Shinohara code 70 turnouts - DCC friendly
Posted by carl425 on Sunday, May 17, 2015 8:51 AM

Are Shinohara code 70 turnouts DCC friendly?

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  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,878 posts
Posted by maxman on Sunday, May 17, 2015 11:10 AM

You have to look at the way they are constructed.  Here is a picture of a code 70 left hand Shinohara: http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Shinohara-HO-8-Left-Hand-Turnout-70-p/shn-305.htm

You can see that there are two metal yokes that connect the point rails together; one at the points; and one at the point pivot.  With this arrangement both point rails and both closure rails will be the same polarity as whichever stock rail the points are touching.

Here is a link to a Walthers code 83 "DCC friendly" turnout: http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Walthers-HO-8804-Code-83-6-Right-Turnout-p/948-8804.htm.  On this turnout the throw bar is plastic, so the point rails are not connected.  Also, you can see that there is not a connection at the point rail pivot between the closure rails.  Also notice that there is an insulator on both sides of the frog insulating it from everything else.  All of those changes make the Walthers item "DCC friendly".

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Mount Vernon WA
  • 968 posts
Posted by skagitrailbird on Sunday, May 17, 2015 11:38 AM

Short answer: No, the Shinohara code 70 turnouts are not DCC friendly.

However, it is not divvicult to make them usable on a DCC layout. First, cut gaps in the two rails diverging away from the frog (away from the points). Second, attach feeders from your power bus to both pairs of diverging rails.

Roger Johnson

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